Adjustable cusp cutter for boring type continuous mining machine



J. GoNsKl Jan. 13, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet I1 ADJUSTABLE CUSP INVENTOR.Joseph Gonski BY v Zu/V7 TTORNE V Filed July` 23, 1957 Jan. 13, '1959Filed July 25 1957 .v JQGONSKI ADJUSTABLE Cus;D CUTTER FOR BORING TYPEcoNTrNuoUsvMINING MACHINE 5 sheetssheet 2 IIDUUUB IN VEN TOR.

Joseph Gonski I ATTORNEY Jan. 13, V1.959 sKl f 2,868,531

J. GoN ADJUSTABLE cUsP CUTTER EUR BORING TYPE A CONTINUOUS MININGMACHINE Filed July 2s, 1957 s, sheets-sheet 3 En* A A A'IWE E L E IN VEN TOR.

BY Joseph Gonskl from/EV United States ADJUSTABLE CUSP CUTTER FOR BORINGTYPE CNTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Application any 2a, 1957, serial No.673,729 s claims. (ci. 262-7) This `invention relates to improvements incontinuous mining machines of the boring type particularly adapted foroperation in low seams of coal.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved form oflow continuous mining machine having a simplified and compact adjustablesupport for theicutting means for outing out the lunmined `cusps of coalleft between the yboring cutters of the machine. j

Another object of the invention is to provide a` unitary support,supporting rotary cutting means for cutting out the dependingunrninedqcusps left between the boring cutters of a continuous miningmachine, together with adjustable means for the support, verticallyadjusting the rotary cutting means independently of the boring heads andsupporting the support on the boring head support frame.

Still `another object of the invention is to provide a continuous miningmachine for coal and the like, in which a plurality of boring heads borea plurality of intersecting bores in the working face of a mine, inwhich the unrnined cusps of coal depending from the roof of the mine arecut out by rotary drum cutters, together with a unitary support for therotary drum cutters, guided for vertical movement with `respect to theboring heads, and power operated jacks for supporting the support andvertically adjustingthe support with respect to the boring heads.

t These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to timeas the following speciiication proceeds and with reference to theacompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is `a view in side elevation of a `continuous mining machine`constructed inaccordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlargedfront end view of the machine shown in Figure 1,with certain parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a `fragmentary plan View of the forward end portion of themachine shown in Figure 1, with certain parts broken away and certainother parts shown in section; i

Figure 4 `is an enlarged fragmentary View in side elevation of theforward end portion of the machine, with certain parts broken awayandcertain other parts shown in vertical section; V

Figure 5 is afragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantiallyalong line V-V of Figure 3;

Figure `6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along lineVI-VI of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view illustrating the bitarrangement on the bearing support for vthe left hand rotary drum cutterfor breaking off an edge of the cusp of unmined coal remaining after theboring operation.

In theembodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, `Figure1` shows a continuous mining machine4 10 of the rotary boring type, inwhich a plurality of boring i heads 11 may cut-out` an entire seam ofcoal from the mine Hoor to the mine roof `by `driving intersecting boresdirectly into the coal face. `The bores at their points of intersectionleave two spaced upstanding cusps of unmined vertically along the2,868,531 Patented Jan. 13, 1959 23 coal extending upwardly from themine floor, in the spaces between adjacentboring heads, and also leave`similar cusps depending from the mine roof between `adjacent boringheads. Spacedjrotary drum type cutters 13 on transverse shaft 14,supported rearwardly of the boring heads 11, and rotatable `about ahorizontal axis extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation of theboring heads 11, are provided to cut along the mine roof in the spacesbetween the boring heads 11, to cut out the depending cusps of unminedcoal and to provide a at roof from one rib of the working place to theother.

Ffhe continuous mining machine is similar to that shown and described inmy joint application with Frank Cartlidge Serial No. 665,062, tiled June1l, 1957, and includes a main frame 15 supported on ground-engagingcontinuous traction tread devices 16 for supporting the machine fromworking place to working place and feeding the boring heads 11 into theworking face of a coal seam.

`A conveyor 19 extends along the main frame 15 from a position adjacentthe ground in advance of the forward end portion and has an inclinedapron. 25 extending `across the forward end thereof and forwardlytherefrom to theground and beyond opposite sides `of said conveyor alongwhich the mined coal picked up and loaded by gathering devices 2@ ontosaid conveyor.

The gathering devices 20 are like those shown in my joint applicationwith Frank Cartlidge, Serial No. 665,062,

a cutting and loading position. Cutter bit carrying cutter chains 35driven from individual motors 37 are guided for -travel about thecutterjbars 33 (Fig. 4).

The forward end portions of the cutter hars 33 are positioned directlyin alignment with the uncut portions left between the overlapping pathsof cutting of adjacent mining heads 11, to completely cut out the cuspsof uncut coal along the floor as the cutter chains pick up the minedcoal from the ground and load 'it onto the receiving end of the inclinedelevating portion of the conveyor 19, as in my aforementioned jointapplication with Frank Cartlidge. t

The main frame 15 has spaced arms 40'and 41 extending along each sidethereof, forwardly of the forward end thereof and along opposite sidesof the traction tread devices 16 (Fig. 3). The arms 40 and 41 formoutboard supports for a transverse beam `43:, extending over theconveyor 19 in advance of the forward end tread devices 16. The beam 43forms a `support for an outboard gear housing `or Aboring head supportframe 44, supporting the boring heads 11 for rotatable movement aboutlaterally spaced axes extending longitudinally of the machine.

Hydraulic jacks 45 mounted on the rear wall of the boring head support4d and reacting` againsty feet 46 projecting downwardly and forwardly of`the beam 43 are provided to vertically adjust the boring head supportframe 44 andthe boring heads 11 mounted thereon, with respect to theground. As herein shown, the jacks 45 are secured to the boring headsupport frame 44 and extend rear wall thereof and have pivotal andsliding connection with the transverse beam 43, as shown and describedin my application `Serial No. 671,792 filed July l5, 1957, and no partof the present invention., so not herein shown or described further.

A hydraulic jack 47 is ,trunnioned within the hollow interior portion ofthe beam i3 on trunnion pins 49 and has `an extensible piston rod S0pivotally connected between connecting ears 51 `extending rearwardlyfrom the rear wall of the outboard boring head support frame 44.

of the traction The jack 47 serves to maintain the boring head supportframe 44 and boring heads mounted thereon in the desired angularrelation with respect to the ground during and after changes in verticalheight of said boring head support frame, and to tilt said boring headsupport frame to change the gradeA of the place being mined.

The boring heads 11 are well known forms of boring heads commonly usedin boring types of Continous miningmachines like those shown in theaforementioned joint application with Frank Cartlidge, so needV onlyherein be shown and described in sufficient detail to render the presentinvention readily understandable. Each boring head 11 has any arm 67extending radially from a hub 69 mounted on a yhollow drive shaft 70.The arm 67 is ofa fixed length and has an arcuate segment 71 extendingforwardly of the outer'end thereof, the arc of which is struck from thecenter of rotation of the arm 67. The arcuate segment 71 hascircumferentially spaced cutter blocks and bits 73 extending forwardlytherefrom.

An arm 75 extends from the hub 69 in a diametrically opposite directionfrom the arm 67. The arm 75 is hollow and has an arm 76 telescopicallymounted therein and having an arcuate segment 77 extending forwardlyfrom the outer end thereof. Cutter blocks and bits 79 extend forwardlyof the arcuate segment 77. The arm 76 may be extensively and retractiblyadjusted with respect to the arm 75 and may be held in position withrespect to said arm to Vary the diameter of the bore, by means of apower driven screw type of adjusting mechanism, such as shown in PatentNo. 2,272,870, dated December 4, 1956, and no part of the presentinvention so not herein shown or described further. A pilot cutter 80extends forwardly from the center of the boring head 11 and hasannularly arranged cutter blocks and bits 81 projecting forwardlytherefrom in advance of the cutter blocks and bits 73l and 79. 1n Figure2, the arcuate segments 71 and 77 and the cutter blocks and bits '73 and79 of the three heads 11 are shown as being arranged out of phase withrespect to each other, so that the path of cutting of one boring headintersects the path of cutting of the next adjacent boring head, tocompletely mine all of the coal in the coal face, except the upstandingand depending cusps of unmined coal spaced on opposite sides of thecenter boring head.

The boring heads 11 are driven from a motor and speed reducer 83 mountedon the main frame 15, through an extensible universal drive connectionincluding spaced constant velocity universal joints 85 and an extensibledrive shaft 86 connecting said universal joints together. The universaldrive connection serves to drive reduction gearing (not shown) housedwithin the support frame 44 for driving the three boring heads 11 at thesame rates of speed, as shown in my joint application with FrankCartlidge, Serial No. 665,062, and no part of the present v invention sonot herein shown or described further.

The support means for the shaft 14 and the rotary cutters 13, supportingsaid cutters for vertical adjustment f with respect to the boring headsupport frame 44, to accommodate adjustment of the rotary cutters 13 toconform to the arcs of cutting of the boring heads 11 comprises avertically guided support plate 89 extending across the front of theboring head support frame 44 inwardly of the hubs 69 for the outerboring heads 11. The plate 89 has a recessed central portion 90 openingto the ground in registry with the hub 69 of the center boring head 11,to accommodate Vertical movement of said plate with respect to said hub.

The plate 89 is shown as having spaced vertically extending slides 91extending rearwardly of the rear face thereof and having inwardlyinclined faces 93 facing outwardly and directed toward the support plate89. The inwardly inclined faces 93 cooperating with the rear faces ofthe slides 91 form dovetail slides having slidable engagement withparallel spaced dovetail gUidGS .95 projecting forwardly of andextending vertically along a front wall 96 of the boring head supportframe 44, and retaining the plate 89 from tilting movement with respectto the front wall 96, and guiding said plate for vertical movementtherealong.

The rotary cutters 13 on the shaft 14 are shown as being drum types ofcutters having cutter bits 97 projecting outwardly from the facesthereof. The shaft 14 supporting and driving said cutters is journaledat one end, which is shown in Figure 5 as being its right hand end, on abail bearing 99, mounted in a support arm 100 extending outwardly fromthe right hand end portion of the support plate 89. The shaft 14 isjournaled intermediate its ends adjacent the inner end of the left handcutter 13, on a ball bearing 101 mounted in a bearing cap 102, mountedin a support 103 extending forwardly from the plate89 along the lefthand wall of the recessed portion 90 and supported thereon. The support103 forms one side ofa gear housing 104, housing reduction gearing 105for driving the shaft 14 and rotary cutters 13 in a cutting direction.vA motor 106, herein shown as being a well known form of fluid operatedmotor is shown as being mounted on the plate 89-and as driving thegearing 105 through a motor gear 107 on the shaft for said motor. Thegear 107 is journaled on a 'boss 108, extending inwardly from thesupport 103, on a ball bearing 109 (Figure 5). Y

,It will be noted from Figure 5 that the rotary cutter 13, which isshown in this figure as being the left hand cutter is shorter than theright hand rotary cutter 13 due to the support 103 and gear housing 104.The left hand rotary cutter 13, therefore, does not entirely cut to theinner end of the cusp of uncut coal left by the center boring head 11.The uncut coal left between the inner end of the left hand rotary cutter13 and the coal left by the center boring head 11 is shown as being cutby three chisel pointed bits 111, mounted in the top of the gear housing104 and the support 103 and, gouging a path through the inner portion ofthe cusp left by the left hand cutter 13 as the boring heads areadvanced into the coal seam (see Figs. 5 and 7).

The means for vertically adjusting the plate 89 and rotary cutter 13 asa unit, to position the cutters 13 to cut along the mine roof in seamsof varying heights, comprises two laterally spaced jacks 123, hereinshown as being screw jacks, but which may be hydraulic jacks, if desired.

The jacks 123 are similar in constructionso only one jack need herein beshown and described in detail. Each screw jack 123 comprises a screw 124mounted at its lower end on a foot 125 extending forwardly of the bottomwall of the mining head support frame 44. The feet 125 are disposedinwardly of the outer boring heads 11 and the screws 124 may be weldedor otherwise secured to said feet. Each screw 124 has a sleeve 126threaded thereon and forming a nut for each screw jack.

The right hand sleeve 126 is shown as being journaled in a worm and wormgear housing 127 on a roller thrust bearing 129 abutting a lowershouldered portion 130 of the sleeve 126, and thereby preventing thesleeve from moving downwardly. The sleeve 126 is journaled in verticallyspaced relation with respect to the bearing 129 on a roller thrustbearing 131 mounted ina housing and support 133, secured to andextending outwardly from the front face` of the plate 89. The sleeve 126is shown as having a bevel gear 135 cut integrally therewith adjacentthe upper end thereof, and meshing with a bevel gear 136 mounted on theinner end of a transverse shaft 138, journaled adjacent'its oppositeends in end plates 137 for the housings 133. The sleeve 126 is shown asbeing closed at its upper end and as having a lug 139 extending upwardlytherefrom within a recessed portion of the upper wall of the housing131, and journaled therein on a anged bearing 14,2, thelilange of whichabuts the top pf the closed portion of the sleeve and serves as a thrustbearlng.

The right handsleeve 126 has a worm gear 140 keyed or otherwise securedthereto, within the housing 127 and driven `from a worm 141 on a shaft143 of a motor 145 mounted on the front face of the place 89. Themotor145 is herein shown as being a well known form of fluid operated motor,although it may be any form of motor desired.

The shaft 138 has a bevel pinion (not shown) on the left hand endthereof, meshing with a bevel gear (not shown) on the left hand sleeve126 and like the bevel gear 135.` This will effect the driving of thetwo sleeves 126 at the same rates of speed `in an obvious manner, and

will thereby effect the elevating or lowering of the rotary cutters 13upon operation of the motor 1'45, to position said cutters to cut alongthe mine roof in coal seams of varying thicknesses. The left hand sleeve126 is exactly like the right hand sleeve except that it does not have aworm gear keyed thereto, and is journaled in a bearing housing 149secured to and extending forwardly of the forward face of the plate 89.

The plate 89 has a ledge 150 extending forwardly therefrom between thehousing 133 and over the transverse shaft 138 to protect said shaft fromfalling rock, coal and the like.

It may be seen from the foregoing that the plate 89 forms a unitarysupport for the transverse rotary cutters 13, the drive mechanismtherefor as well as the elevating mechanism therefor, and the motor fordriving the elevating mechanism. The entire transverse rotary cutterassembly, guided on the front of the boring head support frame 44 andsupported and adjustably moved therealong on the jacks 123, may thus beremoved from or assembled on the machine as a unit independently of theboring heads 11 and may also be adjustably moved independently of saidboring heads to cnt out the depending unmined cusps of coal at theproper elevation.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my inventionmay be embodied, it will be understood that various modifications andvariations thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the novel concepts thereof as defined by the claims appendedhereto.

l claim as my invention:

1. In a continuous mining machine for coal and the like, a plurality ofboring heads rotatable about parallel axes extending longitudinally ofthe machine, a support frame for said boring heads, means for cuttingout the depending cusps of coal left in the spaces between said boringheads comprising rotary drum cutting means extending transversely ofsaid boring heads, means for supporting said rotary drum cutting meansand vertically adjusting said rotary drum cutting means with respect tosaid boring heads comprising a plate extending across the front of saidboring head support frame, guide means guiding said plate for verticalmovement with respect to said support frame and retaining said platefrom angular movement with respect thereto, spaced bearing supportsprojecting forwardly from said plate, a transverse shaft journaledtherein and having said rotary drum cutting means mounted thereon, saidtransverse shaft and rotary drum cutting means being spaced rearwardlyof said boring heads, power means for driving said shaft and rotary drumcutting means, and means for adjustably moving said plate along saidguide means to position said rotary drum cuttingmeans to cut along amine roof comprising two laterally spaced jacks having screws mounted onsaid support frame adjacent the lower end thereof and having nutsrotatably mounted on said plate and retained from axial movement withrespect thereto, means connecting said nuts to rotate together, andpower means for driving said nuts to vary the elevation of said platewith respect to said boring head support frame.

2. In a continuous mining machine for coal and the like, a plurality `ofboring heads rotatable about parallel axes `extending longitudinallyofthe machine, `a support frame for said boring heads, means for cuttingout the depending cusps of coal left in the spaces betweensaid boringheads comprising rotary drum cutting means extending transversely ofsaid boring heads,` means for supportingsaid rotary drum cutting meansand vertically adjusting said rotary drum cutting means with respect tosaid boring heads comprising a plate extending across the front of saidboring head support frame, `guide means guiding said plate for verticalmovement with respect to said support frame and retaining said platefrom angular movement with respect thereto, spaced bearing supportsvprojecting forwardly `from said plate, a transverse shaft journaledtherein and having said rotary drum cutting means mounted thereon, saidtransverse shaft and rotary drum cutting means being `spaced rearwardlyof said boring heads, power means for driving said shaft and rotary drumcutting means, and means for adjustably moving said plate along saidguide means to position said rotary drum cutting means to cut along amine roof comprising two laterally spaced screw jacks, each having ascrew mounted on said support frame adjacent the lower end thereof andextending upwardly therealong, a nut threaded on each screw, verticallyspaced housings for said nuts mounted on said plate and extending forwardly therefrom, thrust bearing means in said housings retaining saidnuts from axial movement with respect to said housings, a transverseshaft journaled at its ends in the uppermost of said housings andconnecting said nuts to rotate together, a motor mounted on said plateandextending forwardly therefrom, and a selflocking worm and worm geardrive from. said motor to one of said nuts.

3. A rotary cutter assembly for mounting on the support frame of aboring type of continuous mining machine for cutting the depending cuspsof coal left between the boring heads for the machine, comprising aplate, a transverse shaft extending across said plate adjacent the upperend thereof, bearing supports extending forwardly of said plate andsupporting said shaft, at least one rotary drum cutter mounted on saidshaft and driven therefrom, spaced slides extending vertically along therear face of said plate for interengagement with corresponding guides onthe support frame for the boring heads of the mining machine, laterallyspaced screw jacks mounted on the forward face of said plate adjacentopposite ends thereof, and including nuts rotatably mounted on saidplate and retained from axial movement with respect thereto, meansconnecting said nuts to rotate t0- gether, screws threaded within saidnuts and adapted to be supported on the support frame for the boringheads of the mining machine and held from rotation with respect thereto,a motor mounted on said plate, and a self-locking geared driveconnection from said motor to one of said nuts. y

4. A rotary cutter assembly for mounting on the support frame of aboring type of continuous mining machine for cutting the depending cuspsof coal left between the boring heads for the machine, comprising aplate, a transverse shaft extending across said plate adjacent the upperend thereof, bearing supports extending forwardly of said plate andsupporting said shaft, at least one rotary drum cutter mounted on saidshaft and driven therefrom, spaced slides extending vertically along therear face ofsaid plate for interengagement with corresponding guides onthe support frame for the boring heads of the mining machine, two screwjacks mounted on said plate adjacent opposite ends thereof and includingvertically spaced housings mounted on saidjplate afjacent opposite endsthereof and extending forwardly therefrom, a nut journaled in each setof vertically spaced housings and retained from axial movement withrespect thereto, a transverse shaft journaled in the uppermost of 7 saidhousings and having geared connection with said nuts to connect saidnuts to rotate together, a motor mounted Von said plate, a geared driveconnection from said motor to onel of said nuts, and screws threadedWithin said nuts and adapted to be retained from rotation and to supportsaid plate on the boring head support frame.

5. A rotary cutter assembly for mounting on the support frame of aboringtype of continuous mining machine for cutting the `depending cuspsof coal left between the boring heads for the machine, comprising avertically extending plate, a transverse lshaft extending across saidplate adjacent the upper end thereof, bearing supports extendingforwardly of said plate and rotatably supporting said shaft, at leastone rotary drum cutter mounted on said shaft anddriven therefrom, amotor on said 15 plate, means driven by said motor for driving saidtransverse )shaft and cutter, spaced slides extending vertically alongthe rear face of said plate for interengagernent with correspondingguides on the support frame for the boring heads of the mining machine,laterallyfspaced vertically extending jacks mounted on the forward faceof said plate adjacent opposite sides thereof, power means on said platefor simultaneously operating said jacks, and support means for saidjacks on the support frame for the boring heads of the continuous miningmachines supporting vsaid plate `and rotary drum cutter and the drivemeans therefor, for vertical adjustment with respect to the supportframe for the boring heads of the continuous mining machine. V Y

References Cited in the le ofithis patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCartlidge et al. Feb. 14,v 1956

